West Palm Beach To Stage Grand Prix

August 16, 1985|By Ira Winderman, Staff Writer

Add Palm Beach County to the list of Florida localities taking part in the great race to stage The Great Race.

Flagler Grand Prix Corp., a group of Palm Beach County businessmen headed by promoter Lloyd Frink, received the go-ahead Thursday from the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) to stage a sports car race through the streets of West Palm Beach in 1986.

The approval came at IMSA`s annual promoters meeting in Seattle.

The West Palm Beach event will feature the same type sports cars that race through downtown streets in the Grand Prix of Miami.

The two-day Palm Beach event is scheduled to be held the weekend of June 21-22 on the strip of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard that runs between the Palm Beach Mall and the West Palm Beach Auditorium. Plans call for roads along the course to be closed after rush hour Friday night before the race and re-open before Monday morning`s rush hour.

Janet Aquaro, IMSA public relations assistant, said Thursday from the organization`s Bridgeport, Conn., offices that she was told not to confirm if Frink had received the OK. But when asked if a promoter`s presence at the Seattle meeting would indicate he had been awarded a race, she said, ``Yes.``

Frink, from his Seattle hotel, said ``We`ve already received preliminary city approval to close the roads, and the city will rubber stamp that OK when we return with the IMSA approval.

``The conceptual approval is already there. We just have a few minor details left, but nothing that can stop the race.``

West Palm Beach City Manager Richard Simmons said there are hurdles to clear concerning the proposed site.

``In many ways it`s a problem area because of the high volume of traffic on the streets,`` he said. ``The mall people might not appreciate having the race on their busiest days of the week.``

But, he added, ``Right now, I would recommend it. If (Frink`s) done his homework, it will breeze through.``

West Palm Beach Mayor Carol Roberts has been a supporter of the idea. Frink`s plans also have received endorsements from the Palm Beach County Tourist Development Council, Discover Palm Beach, the Downtown Development Authority, the Downtown Association and the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Frink said the race will offer a $185,000 purse, but promotional prizes awarded by sponsors could push that figure to more than $200,000. The event, Frink said, will be privately financed, but he declined to disclose Flagler Grand Prix Inc.`s investment. The estimated cost of staging such an event is between $1.3 million and $2 million.

``This will be all done privately,`` Frink said. ``And I`m not going to say how much we`re spending. I intend to keep that private.``

Although Flagler Grand Prix Inc.`s financial studies have yet to be released, the 1985 Grand Prix of Miami added an estimated $25 million to the South Florida economy.

Anita Mitchell, who has been hired to handle the public relations for the event, said a formal press conference would be called upon Frink`s return to reveal the exact downtown course and a day-by-day schedule of events.

``Lloyd is the only one I know who has the chart of the exact course,`` Mitchell said Thursday.

One source said the exact course has not yet been set, pending final reports from engineers.

Frink plans to hold time-trial qualifying for the sports cars on June 21, with the featured races to be held the following day. A series of Vintage and Historic car races will supplement Saturday`s qualifying schedule.

The West Palm Beach proposal first received consideration from IMSA officials during a meeting at March`s 12 Hours of Sebring. At the time, the plan was to stage the event on a 1.8-mile lakefront course on Flagler Drive. But that idea was rejected by IMSA President John Bishop, who called the site too narrow to accommodate the expected crowd. (The Grand Prix of Miami drew a reported 140,000 spectators over two days in February.)

The race will be the fifth IMSA event in Florida. The 24 Hours at Daytona starts the season`s calendar in February and is followed by the Grand Prix of Miami. In March, the series heads to Central Florida for the 12 Hours of Sebring. After racing in West Palm Beach in June, IMSA drivers will make their final Florida appearance in the Camel GT Finale at Daytona Beach in December.

Bishop said he is confident Florida can support five IMSA races.

``I think Florida has become a racing mecca in the past few years,`` Bishop said. ``Because of the variety of events scheduled, there should not be any problem. Sebring is steeped in history, Daytona offers the oval and Miami has sparked interest with its street racing.

``I`m sure oversaturation will not be a problem.``

Ralph Sanchez, promoter of the Grand Prix of Miami, said he welcomes the addition of the West Palm Beach race.

``We have shown that our race has helped attendance at the other Florida races,`` Sanchez said. ``Sebring had a record crowd when it followed our event.